The winners of the Nobel Prizes were announced this week, so today we’re talking about the man behind the awards – Swedish chemist and inventor Alfred Nobel.
Nobel displayed an early aptitude for science and language. He was fluent in 6 languages and filed his first patent at age 24. He held 355 patents in his lifetime, mostly related to explosives. He invented dynamite in 1866, the first safely manageable explosive stronger than black powder. His family also owned a company called Bofors, a major manufacturer of cannons and other armaments.
In 1888, Nobel was astonished to read his own obituary in a French newspaper (it was published by mistake – it was Nobel’s brother who had died). It was titled “The Merchant of Death is Dead”. Nobel was appalled that he would be remembered that way and decided he wanted to leave a better legacy. So he changed his will, bequeathing 94% of his fortune to create prizes for those who confer the “greatest benefit on mankind” in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature, and peace.
Nobel died in 1896 at the age of 63 and Nobel Prizes were first awarded in 1901. Nobel Prizes are announced in October every year and awarded on December 10, the anniversary of Nobel’s death. Each recipient, or laureate, gets a medal plated with 24 karat gold, a diploma, and a monetary award of just over $1 million.
Learn more here.
And because the Nobel Peace Prize was announced today…